Folding-machine.



No.. 702,005. Patented lune '|0, |902.

L. E. BARNES. FOLDING MACHINE. (Application led Feb. 1, 1902.)

3 Sheets-Sheet I. l

Y (No Model.)

Wwses No. 702,005. Patented :une |0`, |902.

L. E. BARNES.

FOLDING MACHINE. (Application. led Feb. 1, 1902.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2- (No Modal.)

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FOLDING MACHINE. (Application tiled Feb. 1, 1902.)

A (No Model.)

y'UNITEDv STATES i PATENT OFFICE.

LEWIS E. BARNES, OF METHUEN, MASSACHUSETTS.

FOLDING-MACHINE.

SI-ECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 702,085, dated June 10, 1902.

Application led February 1,1902. Serial No. 92,100. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that'l, LEWIS E. BARNES, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Methuen, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts,have invented certain new and- The invention consists, in combination with a pair of rotary cylindrical rollers," of al table or support upon which is longitudinally movable a carrier on which the sample cloth is placed previous to being folded. Upon said sample cloth. is placed a formerplate,over the upper vsurface 'of which the side portions of the cloth are folded or doubled over by means of hinged folders pivotally connected to the carrier, and whilek the cloth is thus being held folded on the carrier the latter is guided toward the rotary rollers, causing a projecting portion of the folded sample'cloth'1 to enter between said rollers and causing the sample cloth to be drawn between said rollers and creased into the desired folded position, as will hereinafter be morefully shown and described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, where- Figure 1 is a top planview of the foldingmachine, showing the folding device in its rear position on the work-supportingtable.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on the line 2 2 shown in Fig. l, showing thehffolding device pushed forward to allow the end of the cloth to enter between the rollers. Fig.' 3 is a detail top plan view of the carrier, showing the sample cloth placed in position thereon and the former-plate placed on top of said cloth. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the cloth folded by means of the hinged folders.` Fig. 5 is a cross-section on the line 5 5 shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the former-plate. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the sample cloth shown as folded longitudinally by the action of the folding-machine,

and Fig. 8 is a perspective view of said sample cloth shown as folded transversely ready to be attached to a sample-book.

"Similar letters refer to. similar parts wherever they occur on the dierent parts of th drawings. In the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2, A A represent standards,preferably secured to a base B.

C is a roller the shaft of which is journaled in bearings in the standards A A. The said roller C is set in arotary motion, preferably by`means of belt-power applied Ato a pulley C', secured to the shaft of the roller C. Above theroller'C is located a 4similar roller D, the

' shaft of which is vertically adjustable in said standards A A, preferably by means of screw-y shafts d d and cranks or hand-wheels D D', as is common in feed-roller devices. In front of the said rollers is located a stationary work-supporting table E, to the upper portion of which are secured suitable guides I F F, between which is guided a reciprocating carrier G, upon which the sample cloth H is placed previous to being folded. To said carrier are hinged at c' o' the folder-plates I I,

as shown in the drawings. with said pivoted folder-plates I use a detachable 'former-plate K, provided with an upwardly-extending handle or spindle lo. (Shown in detail in Fig. 6.)

In practice' I provide the carrier G with a knob or handle G', by means of which it may be manipulated bythe operator. In using the Vmachine it is essential that the said carrier shouldl be'limited in its forward motion, so as to prevent it from entering between or 'touching the rollers C D when pushed for- .ward by the operator, and for this purpose I plate K shouldbe limitedin its forward motion, so as to prevent it from entering between or touching the saidfrollers C D, and for such purpose I secure to the table E a transverse stop-bar L, which serves as a stop In connection IOC against the former-plate spindle or handle k when said former-plate is pushed forward to the limit of its stroke, as shown in Fig. 2.

In using the device I proceed as follows: I first turn the folder-plates I I outward, as shown in Fig. 3. I then place the carrier G in the position shown in Fig. 1, after which I place the cloth H upon said carrier in such a position that the forward end h of said cloth shall project about an inch or so in ad- Vance of the forward end of the carrier, as shown in Figs. l, 3, and 4. I then place the former-plate K on top of the cloth and turn the side portions H H of the cloth over and upon the formerplate K by means of the folder-plates I I, which are swung inward to the closed projections shown in Figs. l, 4, and 5. The carrier, with the folded cloth held upon it, is then pushed forward toward the rollers C D in the direction of the arrow shown in Figs. 1 and 4 to the position shown in Fig. 2, causing the forward end h of the folded cloth to enter between the said rollers, by which the cloth is drawn between the rollers, and after the edges of the folded cloth have thus been creased by passing between the rollers, as represented in Fig. 7, the folded sample cloth falls on a suitable table or support M back of the rollers C D, as shown in Figs. l and 2, after which it may be doubled up transversely, as represented in Fig. 8, ready to be attached to a book or cover suitable to hold a series of the folded sample cloths in position for the purpose hereinabove stated.

Instead of having the former-plate K entirely detachable from the carrier G it may be hinged to the same, so as to permit the cloth to be placed on the carrier previous to the folding operation, as above set forth.

After the cloth has been run through the rollers the operator moves the carrier to the original position, (shown in Fig. 1,) turns the pivoted folders outward to their open position, removes the former-plate, and places a new piece of cloth upon the carrier and repeats the folding operation, as hereinabove set forth and described.

Having thus fully described the nature, construction, and operation of my invention, I Wish to secure by Letters Patent and claiml. The herein-described sample-cloth-folding machine, consisting in combination with a pair of rotary creasing-rollers, of a worksupporting table, a carrier adjustable on the latter relative to the rollers, folders pivotally connected to the carrier and a former-plate K, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The cloth-folding device, as described, consisting of a longitudinally-movable carrier G, combined with folders I, I, pivotally connected to said carrier and a detachable former-plate K,adapted to be placed on the top of the sample-cloth before closing the hinged folders substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a sample-cloth-folding machine, in combination a pair of rotary creasing-rollers, a longitudinally-movable carrier, a pair of folders hinged to said carrier, a detachable former-plate adapted to be placed on top of the cloth previous to closing said folders and a stop device for limiting the motion of the carrier and its former-plate relative to the creasing-rollers substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

et. -A cloth-folding machine, consisting in combination a pair of rotary creasing-rollers, a reciprocating carrier, hinged folders on the latter, a detachable former-plate and stop devices for limiting the forward motion of the carrier and former-plate substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

LEWIS E. BARNES.

Witnesses:

CHARLES E. COLLINS, ALBERT B. GORDON. 

